GB2292690A

GB2292690A - Training aids for ball games

Info

Publication number: GB2292690A
Application number: GB9417392A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Asselt Jan Abraham Van
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-30
Filing date: 1994-08-30
Publication date: 1996-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-30
Also published as: GB9417392D0; GB2292690B

Abstract

A training aid 1 for ball games which comprises a striking wall 2 surfaced with one or more layers of a resilient material and includes means 3 for supporting the striking wall with its resilient surface generally normal to the ground or inclined thereto. The position or setting of the support means is adjustable to vary selectively the angle of inclination of the resilient surface of the striking wall. Thus, the striking wall can selectively be positioned generally normal to the ground, at an acute angle to the ground, or at an obtuse angle to the ground. The striking wall may be ribbed. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TRAINING AIDS This invention relates to training aids for players of ball games such as hockey, cricket and the like in which a relatively hard ball or puck having limited resilience is propelled by hand or by using for example a stick or a bat.

More especially, but not exclusively, the invention concerns apparatus for improving the skills of hockey and cricket players.

Unlike in many team games, a hockey ball has insufficient resilience for it to rebound from a plane surface such as a wall with sufficient force to simulate circumstances which arise during a game for training or coaching purposes. Also when it does rebound it does so generally along the ground. The same is true for the game of cricket.

The present invention sets out to provide a useful training aid for players of hockey, cricket and similar team games which simulates to a greater extent aspects which occur during a game.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a training aid for ball games which comprises a striking wall surfaced with one or more layers of a resilient material and including means for supporting the striking wall with its resilient surface generally normal to the ground or inclined thereto, and means for adjusting the position or setting of the support means thereby to vary selectively the angle of inclination of the resilient surface of the striking wall whereby the striking wall can selectively be positioned generally normal to the ground, at an acute angle to the ground, or at an obtuse angle to the ground.

The means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the striking wall may be attached to and/or separable from the striking wall.

The support means may be such that the striking wall can selectively be positioned whereby its resilient surface subtends an angle to the ground within the range 50 to 1300. Thus, the support means may include a plurality of settings, these including a setting in which the resilient surface subtends an angle of 75"to the ground; a setting in which the resilient surface subtends an angle of 90" to the ground; and a setting in which the resilient surface subtends an angle of 110 to the ground.

The support means may comprise a supporting wall which is pivotably connected to the striking wall and is shaped to overlie the resilient surface of the striking wall when the training aid is not in use. The supporting wall may include sideways extending pins which cooperate with suitably shaped recesses formed in the adjoining surfaces of the striking wall to enable the supporting wall to be selectively inclined at predetermined angles to the striking wall.

Alternatively, the support means may be separate or separable from the striking wall. In one such arrangement, the support means comprises a panel one edge of which cooperates with one of a plurality of channels or slots formed in the rear face of the striking wall.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a training aid in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the training aid illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the training aid illustrated in Figure 1 and 2 in a semi closed position; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the illustrated training aid in a closed position; Figure 5 is a cross section taken through the training aid illustrated in Figures 1 to 4; and Figures 6 to 8 are further front and perspective views of the illustrated training aid.

The training aid illustrated in the drawings comprises a striking wall 1 to which is secured one or more layers 2 of a resilient material. As will be seen most clearly from Figure 1, the resilient material 2 extends to the lower margin of the striking wall 1 but is spaced from the sides and top margin of this wall. In an alternative arrangement, the resilient material extends over the entire front face of the striking wall 1. The training aid also includes a supporting wall 3 which is connected to the striking wall by a mechanism which enables the support wall to pivot about pins 4 positioned at or adjacent to the lower margin of the striking wall. The mechanism may simply comprise a series of recesses into which the pins 4 can selectively be located to vary the angle subtended between the striking wall 1 and the support wall 3.

As will be seen from Figure 3 and 4, the support wall 3 rotates through approximately 3600 to enable the support wall to be positioned either adjacent the rear face of the striking wall or over the front face of this wall. Thus, the support wall may include upwardly extending sides which overlie the edges of the striking wall when the training aid is in its closed position. In this latter position, the support wall is folded to or over the front face for ease of carrying and storage. A handle 5 is provided to assist carrying of the training aid.More specifically, the support wall 3 is mounted for rotation between a position in which it lies adjacent the front face of the striking wall as shown in Figure 4, and a position in which it subtends an angle to the striking wall of 90 , or an angle greater than 90" or an angle less than 90".

In a preferred embodiment, the mechanism operates to lock the support wall to the striking wall in, three open positions, one being typically between 50 and 80" in which the striking wall is inclined forwardly, a second of 90 , and a third typically between 110 and 1200 in which the striking wall is inclined rearwardly. The wall 3 can be detached from the striking wall 1 simply by removing the pins 4 from the recess formed in the striking wall.

As will be seen from Figure 4 one side edge 6 of the support wall 3 is inclined inwardly. The reason for this will be explained below.

As shown in Figure 5, the outer face of the striking wall 1 is formed with a plurality of ribs 7 against any one of which the upper edge of the wall 3 may locate whereby the angle subtended between the two walls can selectively be varied. The ribs may be extended both lengthwise and widthwise across the outer face of the striking wall.

The support wall 3 may be of hollow construction and may include a closable opening for the admission of, for example, water or sand to weigh down the support wall in use. Other means of anchoring the support wall to the playing surface may be employed.

The resilient material applied to the striking wall 1 preferably comprises an inner layer of LD45 foam and an outer layer of EV50 foam. The less dense EV50 foam is provided essentially to absorb the impact of a ball or puck struck against a wall and to cause the ball or puck to rebound from the surface at a speed approaching or exceeding that at which it is impacted onto the wall. The inner foam layer is provided essentially to protect the wall from impact forces which would otherwise damage the structure. The coating is secured to the external face of the wall by an adhesive. Double sided tape may be employed for this purpose. Similarly, the inner and outer coating layers are secured together by an adhesive.

The border of the striking wall may include an upstanding lip better to receive and retain the resilient material. Additionally or alternatively a seal may be provided between the wall and the coating.

The .walls of the structure may each be of unitary construction (eg in sheet form) and may be produced from plastics, wood, plywood, chipboard, fibreglass or metal.

In a preferred construction, the walls are of polyethylene and are produced by a rotation moulding process.

The striking wall may be plane faced as illustrated or may be curvilinear in a concave or convex sense. Also the degree of curvilinearity may vary across the length of the wall. In an unillustrated embodiment, the wall defines a series of vertical and/or horizontal undulations or ripples.

As will be seen from Figure 1 and Figures 6 to 8, the training aid may be positioned with one of its longer or shorter sides in contact with the playing surface.

Typically, the longer side of the training aid is approximately 100 cm and the shorter side 50 cm.

In use, the training aid is positioned with the resiliently coated striking wall 1 presenting an upwardly extending striking surface set at an angle which can be varied by appropriate adjustment of the support wall.

Thus, the striking wall may be set at an angle of approximately 90 to the horizontal or at an alternative angle of between 500 and 900 or between 900 and 1300. With the training aid positioned as shown in Figure 8, the inclined side edge 6 of the support wall 3 causes the striking wall to be inclined rearwardly to the vertical.

With practice a sequence of hockey wall passes can be made by one player or by several players taking turns. The resilient surface ensures that the speed of which the ball or puck leaves the striking wall approaches or even exceeds the speed at which the ball or puck is directed onto a wall. For training or coaching purposes a player or group of players simply strike a ball or puck against the striking surface of the wall 1 and attempt either to catch or return the ball as it rebounds and to direct it once again onto the striking surface.

When used for cricket training or practice, a ball can be either thrown or struck by a bat against the striking wall 1 for fielding and catching practice.

Thus the training aid can be used to simulate situations which frequently arise during the course of a game of cricket, hockey, ice hockey, roller hockey or other similar games. In the context of the game of hockey, the training aid can be used to simulate two particular situations which frequently arise these being when a ball or puck is directed to a player along the ground or at variable height above ground level. The training aid can also be used to improve the skill of goal keepers and goal minders.

Two or more training aids can readily be linked together either in a straight line or angled one to another to provide a greater area of potential impact and to increase the available training or coaching options. Where two or more training aids are to be linked in line, a variety of catch mechanisms may be employed. Thus simple interlocking bolt members may be employed.

When not in use as a training aid, the apparatus can be folded to the position shown in Figure 4 for ease of carrying and storage.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the training aids described may be used by individuals for school training by repetitive practice and consistency of speed of feed without the need for a partner.

In an illustrated embodiment, the trainer simply comprises the striking wall 1 and some means of supporting the striking wall in a selected one of a predetermined range of angles. In this arrangement, the supporting wall 3 may be unnecessary. Thus, the non-surfaced face of the striking wall may be ridged (as shown in Figure 5) to enable the wall to be supported simply by means of a separate supporting structure, eg a panel. Additionally or alternatively, removable legs of adjustable height may be provided, these legs possibly being located in selected fixings provided on the rear face of the striking wall.

In a further unillustrated embodiment, the support means simply comprises one or more tracks attached to a wall or the like with which one or more sliding hinges carried by the rear face of the striking wall project, means being provided to lock the hinge or hinges within the or each track such that the striking wall is inclined at the required angle to the ground.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of training aids in accordance with the invention and that mòdifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A free-standing training aid for ball games which comprises a striking wall surfaced with one or more layers of a resilient material and including means for supporting the striking wall with its resilient surface generally normal to the ground or inclined thereto, and means for adjusting the position or setting of the support means thereby to vary selectively the angle of inclination of the resilient surface of the striking wall whereby the striking wall can selectively be positioned generally normal to the ground, at an acute angle to the ground, or at an obtuse angle to the ground.

2. A training aid as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the striking wall is attached to the striking wall.

3. A training aid as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the striking wall is separable from the striking wall.

4. A training aid as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the support means is such that the striking wall can selectively be positioned so that its resilient surface subtends an angle to the ground within the range 50 to 1300.

5. A training aid as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the support means includes a plurality of settings, these including a setting in which the resilient surface subtends an angle of 75"to the ground; a setting in which the resilient surface subtends an angle of 900 to the ground; and a setting in which the resilient surface subtends an angle of 110 to the ground.

6. A training aid as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the support means comprises a supporting wall which is pivotably connected to the striking wall and is shaped to overlie the resilient surface of the striking wall when the training aid is not in use.

7. A training aid as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the supporting wall includes sideways extending pins which cooperate with suitably shaped recesses formed in the adjoining surfaces of the striking wall to enable the supporting wall to be selectively inclined at predetermined angles to the striking wall.

8. A training aid as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the support means is separable from the striking wall and comprises a panel one edge of which cooperates with one of a plurality of channels or slots formed in the rear face of the striking wall.

9. A training aid as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the resilient material extends to the lower margin of the striking surface but is spaced from the sides and top margin of the striking surface.

10. A training aid as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims further comprising a handle to assist carrying.

11. A training aid as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the outer face of the striking wall is formed with a plurality of ribs against which the upper edge of the support means may locate.

12. A training aid as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the support means is of hollow construction and includes a closable opening for the admission of a weighting medium.

13. A training aid as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the weighting medium is water or sand.